Strong growth forecast for small wind sector in UK and abroad
Reports from the main wind industry trade associations in Britain and America have forecast strong growth ahead in the market for small wind turbines.
The British Wind Energy Association and its US equivalent, the American Wind Energy Association, both highlighted the contribution of UK manufacturers to the growing sector.
The study from the AWEA published on Friday said UK companies produced 7.24MW of turbines in the 0-50kW range during 2008, representing a quarter of global demand and second only to the US itself in output.
The BWEA's study said the UK was the world's biggest exporter of turbines under 50kW in size, selling 4.7MW of turbines abroad in more than 100 countries. Manufacturers in this country saw their export market double last year, with half of all British turbines finding homes overseas in part thanks to the weaker Pound.
Next year, more turbines from UK manufacturers will be exported than deployed in this country, according to the BWEA report.
While the domestic market stabilised "due to delays in introducing streamlined planning policy", the industry predicted sharp increases in deployment in 2010 when feed-in tariffs are expected to be introduced in the UK.
Ron Stimmel, author of the AWEA report, said: "The UK currently exports more small wind systems than any other country in the world and has a great potential domestic market."
Mr Stimmel suggested that new government incentives in the US could drive a 30-fold growth in its demand for small wind turbines over the next five years, with the country representing just over 44% of the global market.
"With the right policies, the UK market could see similar growth," Mr Stimmel suggested.
The global market for turbines under 100kW grew by 53% last year, compared to 2007.
The AWEA report named Scottish firm Proven Energy as the second most successful wind turbine manufacturer in the world last year.
Proven sold 4,800kW of turbines in 2008, the report said.
In the UK, domestic manufacturers account for 82% of the market, with more than 10,000 small wind systems installed since 2005 - around 20MW of overall capacity.
The sector now employs 1,800 people in the UK, creating 500 jobs last year. By 2010, small wind turbines in the UK are predicted to be saving more than 45,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year compared to conventional electricity generation.
Commenting on the studies, BWEA small system manager Alex Murley said: "This news represents a glowing success story for a vibrant world-leading UK manufacturing industry. If the UK marketplace is supported now, this promising UK sector could supply fast-expanding global markets for decades to come."
The two reports followed last month's International Small Wind Conference, in which manufacturers pointed to the UK's early technical lead in the sector as laying the foundations of what could become a "potentially very big industry".
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